Assisted Living vs. Home Care

Assisted Living vs. Home Care

The Senior Tsunami

You’ve probably heard the terms “senior tsunami” or “silver tsunami”. They are terms used to describe the demographic phenomenon of population aging that we are experiencing right now. As the Baby Boomers age during the next 20 years, the number of older Americans will rise dramatically. With age comes less independence and, for many, the need for help with many of the activities of daily living. The question I get from many people trying to navigate through the myriad of care options is “what are the advantages of assisted living vs. home care”? And, how do I choose?

Maybe you are the adult child of a parent who is beginning to lose their ability to remain independent. You’ve noticed that the home is not as clean as it once was. Or, that they are having difficulty performing basic chores, running errands or driving to appointments. What do you do? Since each situation is different, you more than likely have many options. But, for this article, we will look the options of Assisted Living vs. Home Care.

Assisted Living

Assisted living is a type of care facility that helps seniors with the tasks of daily living. Your loved one becomes part of a community where they can take part in activities, social events and develop a routine. These types of facilities are great for seniors who fear isolation since they will be around a lot of other seniors. People who live in an assisted living facility can have a separate room or share a room with another senior.

Assisted living facilities oftentimes provide transportation, housekeeping, laundry, and some medical services. They are designed essentially to help residents stay mobile, active, and safe.

Home Care

Home care allows your loved one to remain in the comfort of their own home. In-home care allows a person to receive help with daily tasks while simultaneously living in the home they are comfortable and familiar with.

Depending on the level of care needed and the number of hours per day, the cost of home care can vary widely. In-home care professionals are typically paid by the hour.

Duties can include general chores like helping with organizing things, light housekeeping, laundry, or medical assistance. Staying in one place while receiving care enables a senior to stay with family members who do not need the same level of care they do.

Which Is Best For You?

In summary, the advantage of assisted living is the 24-hour support and supervision. Facilities are built to provide safety for your loved one, nutritious meals, fitness programs, around the clock housekeeping, and laundry. On the other hand, in-home care allows your loved one to stay with family in an environment they are comfortable with. In-home care also lets seniors maintain independence and control over their routine.

There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding which is best for you or your loved one. Start reaching out and get information on each option. Contacting a Family Advisor at Senior Living Options of the Desert is a great place to start. They will help you evaluate your options and can provide information that will help in making your decision.

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We can’t thank you enough for being there in our great need. Because we live in Arizona, we had no idea how to find a good care home for Walt’s sister. > You came highly recommended by the hospice program. By talking to you on the phone and your kind visit to… Read more “You Came Highly Recommended”

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I live in North Carolina. Being so far away is difficult and I have felt helpless. When I spoke with you about the possibilities for my sister I was impressed by your genuine kindness, information, immediate response, follow up and concern. You do not even know me, yet I felt like I… Read more “I Felt Like You Were Family”

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Dear Leann, I am writing to thank you for all of the help you gave me when I was looking for an assisted living facility / room and care home to place my husband early this year and then recently when we decided to move him to Los Angeles, two hours away… Read more “You Are Truly the Local Experts”

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﻿Senior Living Options of the Desert were a God send! When it became clear my Mother could no longer live on her own, I didn’t know where to turn. My Mother was diagnosed with second stage dementia. I didn’t know where to start. A friend recommend Senior Living Options of the Desert,… Read more “The Peace-of-Mind You Have Given Me is Priceless”

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Leann, where do I start? First of all, you need to replace your supply of business cards at the Rancho Mirage Alzheimer’s office because I just took the last 4 that were there in the card holder. I forgot who the other rep is that has cards in that same holder but… Read more “Alzheimer’s Support”

Rick L

Your Recommendation Was On The Nose

Just a short note to tell you how much I appreciate your time and effort on behalf of myself and my wife amidst the guilt and confusion of acknowledging that my wife would be better cared for in the proper long term care facility. Your recommendation was on the nose. The caring… Read more “Your Recommendation Was On The Nose”

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Now that I have time to breath I wanted to send you the biggest and best thank you for the heartfelt time and effort that you spent helping me with my mother. It is never easy when your parent gets older and starts to fade and unable to care for themselves. In… Read more “I am Deeply Indebted to You”

Jerry G.

Helped Me Make an Informed Decision

Choosing a retirement home for my father up until now has been a trying, stressful and difficult task, but your help with this has changed all that. You turned this experience into an informative and exciting opportunity which both I and my father are looking forward to. You helped me relax throughout… Read more “Helped Me Make an Informed Decision”

Judy B.

Tenacity and Enthusiasm

Thank you for your tenacity and enthusiasm in assisting me in my time of crisis, it was life changing for my mother and myself. It has been a privilege to receive excellent service beyond my expectations. My mother and myself were very fortunate to encounter someone with your knowledge of assisted living… Read more “Tenacity and Enthusiasm”

Arlene S.

I Highly Recommend

As a Case Manager, I had all the information at my fingertips, but I sat there, struggling with this, as so often the families of my patients do. I was paralyzed, frightened and pressed for time to make a decision and do the right thing. My saving grace and gift from God… Read more “I Highly Recommend”

Erin D. R.N.

Five + Stars!

Leann and her team at Senior Living Options of the Desert were absolutely heroic in helping our client’s family find the right care option for their mother and father. When it became too much for them to remain in their homes safely I referred them to Leann. She was amazing and my… Read more “Five + Stars!”

I Sleep Peacefully at Night Now!

Hi Janice, I just wanted to write a note to give my heartfelt thanks to Leann and Rick for their incredible assistance in finding the right place for my dad and for guidance in how to complete the VA forms (including the correct forms) to submit for financial assistance. My dad was… Read more “I Sleep Peacefully at Night Now!”

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Leann is a perfect combination of caring, professional and knowledgeable. My family had a challenging situation that warranted a quick solution and Leanne was amazing in her guidance—from knowing the optimal facilities, getting tours set up in a timely fashion, to referrals for other high quality providers. She even helped out over… Read more “Caring, Professional & Knowledgeable”

Lisa

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Just wanted to take a few minutes today to formally thank you for the interesting and very informative seminar you presented to the senior concerns committee this past Sunday. Although the turnout was somewhat small, the enthusiasm of the participants clearly made up for it. You were entertaining, easy to understand, and… Read more “A Partner With Eisenhower”

Michael P. and Jane Z.

Thanks So Much For Your Help

Leann – thanks so much for the help you were able to provide. Your associate, Colleen lead my dad to a few places, and Merrill Garden is where both he and Myrsene plan to move, if VA financially supports, and I believe that won’t be an issue, by March 1. It is… Read more “Thanks So Much For Your Help”

Denise

Our Sincere Gratitude

On behalf of myself and Veronica Urich’s entire family we would like to express our sincere gratitude for all of your help in the placement of our Grandmother-mother-wife. We moved her into her new home about 1 ½ weeks ago and everything went smooth. She seems really happy there, which makes all… Read more “Our Sincere Gratitude”

Wendy P.

Compassion and Personal Service

I really appreciated the compassion and personal service that Senior Living Options provided when I needed to find a Board and Care facility for my mom. While under the stress to find the right facility in a short period of time, Senior Living Options of the Desert made the process easy, by… Read more “Compassion and Personal Service”

Michael L.

Far Beyond My Expectations

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and the staff of “Senior Living Options” for assisting me with making the right choice of an Assisted Living facility for my father and stepmother. Further, the services and resources offered by your agency went far beyond my expectations. Along with several tours… Read more “Far Beyond My Expectations”

Jack W.

They Are The Best!

I don’t know what I would have done without this kind of help! I didn’t realize this was a business of helping people. I definitely recommend Senior Living Options of the Desert, they are the best!

Natalie A.

Leann Is a Special Kind of Person

I am so fortunate when I initially contacted Senior Living Options of the Desert and that Leann would be the one contacting me. It takes a special kind of person to do what Leann does. Her patience and knowledge after meeting my parents and experiencing their personalities and which communities were best… Read more “Leann Is a Special Kind of Person”

Dolores J.

5 Stars

Very helpful & knowledgeable and made me feel so comfortable while helping me with my mom’s placement. I would highly recommend them as they have so much heart and really care about your loved one. 3/17/2017

Debbie

A Guiding Hand!

Working with Senior Living Options of the Desert has been an extraordinary opportunity for our family to spend time with our mother. There was a guiding hand every step of the way.

Lars H.

Thank You!

When my Mom suddenly wasn’t able to live independently, Rick and Susan Peterson of Senior Living Options of the Desert were really great in helping her to find a good safe place to live. They were attentive to her personal needs, respectful of her budget requirements and really supportive. They were also… Read more “Thank You!”